WRITER ON THE MORBIUS TRUCK : A STUDY OF ABE KOBO'S NOVELS

Abstract

Chapter One Declaration at Point of Departing: This chapter starts with a discussion of Abe Kobo's debut, Towards the Landmark at the End of the Road In this work, one can trace Abe’s firm determination to severe any possible relationship with all existing values which serve as the very fundamental idea of his literary works later. The Indictment of Heretic and Dendrocacalia reflect the many different styles (including existentialism, surrealism, etc.) which Abe Kobo attempts in this early period of his literary career. The influence from other writers, both Japanese and foreign is discussed too. Chapter Two The Time for Trials: The Crime of Mr. S.Karma won for Abe Kobo the 25th Akutagawa Prize in 1950. While relecting the very particular stand that Abe Kobo adopts in presenting his ideas, the work also reconfirms Abe Kobo's several characteristic styles of writing. Other works discussed in this chapter include a work with a very strong flavour of Science fiction, Inter Ice Age and another work which resembles the style of a suspense novel, The Eye of the Stone. Inter Ice Age four has a nature slightly different from most of the works discussed in terms of themes. The Eye of the Stone is basically a failure but an indepth comprehension of the work will enable one to understand better Abe Kobo's characteristics. Chapter Three Others and Oneself: The Trio of Missing in which are three works constitute three of the most popular works of Abe Kobo. Women in the Dune has not only won for Abe Kobo the Yomiuri Literature Prize but also established him a place in the international literary world. Other's race and The Ruined Map make up the rest of the trio and these three works centre on the main theme of inter-personal relationship in the contemporary cities. Special attention is also paid to the particular style of presentation which is actually the gerne of Abe Kobo's novels. Chapter Four Pecking into Abe Kobo's Internal World with his Glasses Enomoto Takeai is a historical figure which is being dramatized in a novel by the same name. This work is written about the same time as Other's Face but with a rather different presentation. It is actually an attempt which led to his next controversial novel Box Man. Box Man is a depiction of an internal psychological activity of the protagonist. The Secret Rendezvous is the last work discussed in this dissertation and it suggests that Abe Kobo is lost in his literary creation. Conclusion: The characteristic that contributes to Abe Kobo’s novel is, Ultimately, his method of presentation. One cannot ignore the flaw in his yearned ideal style of existence: one which has absolutely no contact with any existing value and free from any kind of influence from the environment. However, it is exactly this persistence and patience that contributes to the very strong feeling of life in Abe Kobo’s work which unfortunately, is being covered style of presentation. This is one of the reasons why Abe Kobo has been labelled so many different names while at the same time he is not very correctly understood.